Push-button trip lever for low closet tanks



w. c. RATHBUN.

PUSH BUTTON TRIP LEVER FOR LOW CLOSET TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3, 1920.

1,420,948, Patented June 27, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

w. c. RATHBU'N.

PUSH BUTTON TRIP LEVER FOR LOW CLOSET TANK S.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG-3, I920.

1,420,948. 'PatentedJune 27,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

vemtoz S] Whitman EhRafll L PATENT oFricE.

WHITMAN o. RATI-IBUN, or NEW ROCKFORD, NORTH DAKOTA.

rnsir-nu'r'ron TRIP 'LEvnn'noR-Lo'w CLOSET TANKS.

. a j V a SPBCLICQHOII of Letters Patent. Patenigd J 27 1922 Application filed August 3,1320. Serial No. 401,046.

T 0 all w 7mm it may concern BUN, a citizen of-the UnitedStates, residing at New Rockford, in the county of Eddy and State of North "Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Push-Button Trip Levers for Low Closet Tanks, of which'the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flushtanks, and the :primaryobject of the invention is to provide animproved means for operating and'lifting'the ball valve of low water closet flush tanks and comprehends the use'of a push button extending outwardly of the tank andoperatively connected'to the stem of the ball valve.

Another prime object of this invention is theprovision of novel meansfor connecting the push button with the flush valve so as to permit theoperation thereof in a positive and silent manner and which requires no change in the ordinary flush tankand valve.

A "furtherobject of the invention is the provision of a casting including a hollow threaded'sleeve for the reception of the sliding push button shank andthe right angularly disposed pivot supports for the trip lever of the flush valve and a hell crank. which is utilized for operatively connecting the push button shank with the trip lever.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for operating the flush "valve of closet tanks which is of a compactnatureand which will be durable and efficient in use and one which can be manufactured andplaced upon the market at a minimum cost.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in'the novel'const'ruction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in-the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough a flush tank looking toward the rear end of the same and showing the improved operating means connected thereto.

Figu're2 is a rear elevation of the improved operating means.

Figure 3 is a-similar view showing the trip lever in its actuated position.

flush tank A.

improved operating means for 'the flush valve C thereof;

The flush tank Ais of the ordinary or any preferred construction an'd has mounted therein in the ordinary manner the autoni'atic 'iilling valve structure D and the 'flush valve structure C. The flush "valve structure C includes the valve-seat 10 and the hollow flexible ball valve 11 which is provided with the usual upwardly extending stem 12.

The tank A includes the front wall 13 which isprovid'e'd at a convenient point with an opening 14, the purpose of which will be hereinafter imo'r'e fully described. The

improved operating means B includes a casting 15 which comprises a sleeve 16 which is inserted through the opening 14 from the inner 'end thereof. A portion of this sleeve 16 is externally threaded as at 17'a1id is adapted'to"eXtend outwardly from the-outer face of the front wall 13 of the The rear portion of the shank 16 is formed polygonal shaped in cross section as at 18 so as to prevent rotation of'the sleeve within the walls of the opening- 1 i. The inner endof the sleeve is provided with an annular flange or disc shaped-body 19, which is adap ted to tightly engage the inner face of the front wall 18 of the tank. The threaded portion 17 of the sleevehasthreade'd thereon the nut 20 carrying the flange 21 which is "adapted to tightly "engage the outer face of the front wall 13. The provision of the flanges 21 and 19 forms an eflic-i'entme'ans forholding the casting 15 in place. The nut 20 may he formed ofan'ornamental appearance so as to present a pleasingaspect totheeye. The lower end of'a flangeor discshaped body '19 is provided with a depending inwardly extending bifurcated arm 22 which forms a support for the pivot pin 23 on which is mounted at its angle the bell crank 24 which will be hereinafter more specifically described. The inner edge of the flange 19 is provided with an inwardly extending relatively large arm 25 which is provided with a right angularly extending foot 26, which has formed thereon the inwardly ex tending horizontally disposed pivot pin 27 which forms the support for the trip lever 28 which will be hereinafter more specifically described.

The sleeve 16 of the casting 15 slidably receives and forms the sliding bearing for the shank 29 of the push button 30, which forms the actuating member for the trip lever 28. The push'button 30 is arranged in a horizontal plane and is adapted for movement toward and away from the tank and the forward end thereof may be made in any preferred ornamental shape so as to present a pleasing appearance to the eye. The rear end of the shank 29 projects rearwardly of the flange 19 and is bifurcated as at 31 and the bifurcated portion of the shank supports the removable pivot pin 32 which is adapted to be inserted through any one of a plurality of openings 33 formed in the upwardly extending arm 34 of the bell crank 24. The provision of a plurality of openings 33 in the arm 34 of the bell crank 24 permits of the adjustment of the bell crank in relation to the shank of the push button. It is to be noted that these openings are formed relatively long in the arm 34 of the bell crank so as to permit a limited movement of the pivot pin 32 within the same. The lower arm 35 of the bell crank is provided with an angle portion 36 for a purpose which will be hereinafter more specifically described. The trip lever 28 is provided at a point adjacent to its inner end with a hub 37 which is. rotatably mounted upon the pivot pin 27. The inner end of the trip lever 28 is slightly angled downwardly as at 38 and the free end of the angled portion is provided with a slot 39 for the reception of the angled portion 36 of the lower arm 35 of the bell crank 24-. The angled portion 36 of the arm 35 of the bell crank forms a seat for the inner end 38 of the trip lever and forms a means for preventing the accidental displacement of the bell crank from engagement with the trip lever. The inner end of the trip lever 28 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 40 and any one of these openings are adapted to receive the upper hooked end 41 of the stem 12 of the ball valve '11..

By providing a plurality of openings 40, the trip lever 28 can be readily adjusted in relation to the flush valve.

In operation of the improved operating means for the flush valve, it can be seen that when pressure is exerted on the push button and the same is forced inwardly the. bell crank 24 will be rocked on its pivot pin 23 and thus move the inner end 38 of the trip lever 28 downwardly swinging the same on that the inner end of the trip lever 28 will also tend to return the parts of the device to their normal positions.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that an exceptionally simple and durable construction of a compact and simple nature has been provided for operating the flush valve of closet tanks by merely pressing inwardly upon a push button.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. In combination, a flush tank, a flush valve therein, a trip lever including a hub arranged intermediate its ends, a casting including a sleeve, a sliding button carried by the sleeve, means connecting the sleeve with the flush tank, right angularly disposed arms carried by the casting, a horizontally disposed pivot pin carried by one of the arms forming a pivot for the hub of the trip lever, a bell crank pivoted at its angle to the other arm, means operatively connecting one arm of the bell crank to the push button, and means operatively connecting the other arm of the bell crank to the trip lever.

2. In combination, a flush tank including a front wall having an aperture therein, a flush valve arranged in the tank, a trip lever disposed in the tank, a castingincluding a sleeve [itted in said opening, an annular flange formed on said sleeve and arranged to engage the inner face of the front wall of the tank, a flanged nut fitted on said sleeve and arranged to engage the outer face of said frontwall of the tank, a sliding plunger mounted in said sleeve, a depending arm formed on said first mentioned flange, a bell crank pivoted at its angle to said depending arm, an inwardly extending arm formed on said first mentioned flange, an outwardly extending horizontally disposed pivot pin formed on said last mentioned arm, the trip lever including a hub arranged adjacent to one end thereof, said mentioned end having an opening formed therein, the lower arm of said bell crank being angled and fitted in said opening, and means operatively connecting the other end of the trip lever with said flush valve.

3. The combination With a flush tank including a front Wall having an opening formed therein, a flush valve arranged Within the tank, a casting including a sleeve having the outer end thereof threaded and its inner end polygonal shaped in cross section, said sleeve being fitted in said opening, a flange formed on said polygonal shaped end of the sleeve and arranged to engage the inner face of the front Wall of the tank, a flanged nut threaded on said threaded end of the sleeve and arranged to engage the outer face of said front Wall of the tank, a sliding plunger mounted in said sleeve and having an inner bifurcated end, a depending arm formed on said flange, a bell crank pivoted at its angle to said depending arm, said bell crank including an upper and a lower arm, the upper arm having a plurality of openings formed therein and disposed in said hifurcation of said plunger, a pin carried by the bifurcated portion of said plunger and ar 'anged in one oi said openings, the lower arm of said bell crank being angled, second arm formed on said flange, a pivoted pin formed on said last mentioned arm, a trip lever rotatably mounted on said pivot pin and including a relatively long arm and a relatively short angled arm, said angled arm having an opening arranged to receive the angled arm of the bell crank, and means operatively connecting the terminal of the long arm of the trip lever to said flush valve.

WHITMAN O. RATHBUN. 

